It is clear that Hoy and Hussey have built a firm friendship in addition to their business relationship. Both are passionate about creating an inclusive line that has an offering for both the performance and more casual riders at price points that are more accessible than the rest of the Vulpine range.

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“We were thinking about doing a performance line as well anyway. I was thinking about doing it as the whole point about Vulpine is to provide every cyclist with what they need to cycle. Vulpine wasn’t doing that. If you are going to ride 100 miles in a sportive you can’t do that in the gear we currently produce so it was really nice timing when Chris approached me. So now we do have a performance range and a casual range with Evans and that is also at a different price range. Vulpine is really high end, I wanted to make the best stuff ever but now the [HOY Vulpine] range is much more accessible.” says Hussey.

The Hoy Vulpine range is still relatively limited with two jerseys – The City Jersey (£54.99) and the Valldemossa Race Jersey (£69.99) and two pairs of shorts – The Saitama Trail Short (£54.99) and the El Toro Bib Shorts (£80). In addition to this there are socks (£11.99), a cycling cap (£11.99) and a splattering of stylish technical tees.

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Interestingly the range only differs in cut but not in style nor colour for men and women: “We don’t want to patronise women and say you should be wearing pink shirts, pink shorts and fluffy things. It is about making cycling appeal to everyone, why should it be different? Obviously there are anatomical differences in the bib shorts and different cuts to make sure it fits the shape [of a woman] but it is more about making it appealing to everybody,” explains Hoy.

You can tell both Hoy and Hussey are from competitive backgrounds. While neither are riding bikes competitively any longer, both are determined to make sure that HOY Vulpine is a success. “I still have that competitive instinct. But the nice thing is that I don’t have to do that every session, I don’t have to worry about power outputs and split second time differences. I can just go out and ride my bike for fun.

“I am now looking at other people, looking at other bikes, seeing what other manufacturers are doing, thinking about the bike I am riding and the kit I am riding in to see how I can improve it. That’s what I tend to find myself thinking about instead of thinking about trying to catch up with someone ahead of me or get away from people behind me,” says Hoy.

It is clear that HOY Vulpine is a brand that will not stand still for even a second. Plans are already underway to introduce outer and thermal wear into the winter line and there is even talk of a children’s line, inspiration for which will no doubt be taken from both Hussey and Hoy’s own kids.
HOY Vulpine is now on sale through Evans Cycles.